Kobe Bryant Discussion: Mamba Out!

I would have waited a week but the emotion to write that must be so heavy

 

‘IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I SAW SO MANY MEN CRYING TOGETHER,’ THOUSANDS FLOCK TO STAPLES CENTER TO MOURN KOBE BRYANT (PHOTO ESSAY)
JAVIER CABRALJANUARY 27, 2020
https://www.lataco.com/fans-mourn-kobe/

 

Life is cruel. Kobe, Gigi, Vanessa and the kids were robbed of a great life ahead and we were robbed of witnessing it. Way too young. Way too soon. It's not fair and I can't stop crying.

I'm glad LeBron's head is in the right place though. I hope our team rallies around him. This year is about winning #17 for Kobe and Gigi.

 

just finished watching his last game on ESPN. just an incredible performance. that was literally all he had left in the tank after 20 years and he put it all on display that night

 

I was surprised that at first I found watching the replay therapeutic as I wasn’t really sad during the first three quarters. But man, those last few minutes the emotions hit me like a brick. When he goes classic Mamba to win us the game and after each big play the camera pans to Vanessa, Gigi, and Natalia cheering so excitedly in the crowd... my body was shaking it was so hard to hold back tears. And then that “Mamba Out” speech was too much this time around.

 

that ending was rough...but man to see all these celebs acting like little kids smiling as kobe did his magic...just too good. what other athlete was as inspirational to other greats in their respective industries. people may argue whether he is the goat or not, but one thing that cant be argued is he had the GOAT work ethic. love u kob

 

I couldn't bring myself to watch the game. I won't be watching basketball until the next Lakers home game and then after that, I'll take a break until the playoffs come along. Best of luck guys. It will be a rough few days, weeks, months, etc., but watching Kobe all his career, I know he'd push through and we will all as well.

 

I get that as a competitor he wants to take that “put the team on my back” mentality and obviously I would love to see him pull it off and carry us to a championship. It would be one of the greatest sports stories of all time.

But I hope for Lebron’s sake that he knows deep down he doesn’t need to take that responsibility. That is a LOT of pressure to take on. For his own peace, I don’t think he should tie his grief to our results as a basketball team. I feel with the circumstances of Kobe’s death, Bron having just passed him in scoring and talked to him, and just the nature of their relationship, this could be really traumatizing for Lebron. He’s already taken on the challenge of filling Kobe’s shoes by signing with us and now if he feels like he somehow needs to win us a championship to do right by Kobe, that has the potential to be really painful and it doesn’t have to be. This is bigger than basketball. Winning would be an amazingly therapeutic gift to the city, but losing would not be a personal indictment on Lebron or his connection with Kobe.

 

Damn it, those were moving words by Bron. The rightful end to this is bringing a trophy back to LA this June, dedicating every game, every win, and the 'ship to Kobe. That sounds great, right? Only I can't muster the interest to give a f***. It doesn't change what happened. It doesn't bring Kobe, Gigi, or the others on the helicopter back. The rest of this season seems so trivial right now. I'm still going to watch, follow, and support the team till the end. But it's like eating a meal when food has lost its flavor.

 

You can feel Cook's pain through that one.

 

i couldnt agree more. i hate that this tragedy is what caused it but im living a life of no more excuses from here on out. i never thought i would get a tattoo either but ive decided to get one now. no one other than people like us on this forum will understand how much kobe meant to me. he was my life.

 

His death has also really changed how I view this team and the remainder of the season. If anything, I just want to move forward with the guys we have. We're a family and I love this team. I don't want anyone traded this season or cut. Just play your hardest for Kobe. That's all any of us can ask for at this time.

#MambaMentality

 

Viewing this thread again in office work makes me feel so emotionally wrecked and I just uncontrollably sobbed at my workplace. Having being known as a person who is stoic and emotionless in the workplace, a few concerned co-workers came over and asked what happened. I replied, voice cracking and without looking at them:

In life, you'll never know which comes earlier, accident or tomorrow.

 

A billboard near Clemson, SC where I live. The love for Kobe is nationwide.

 

Kobe apparently was working on a book with the writer of his favorite book-- The Alchemist. Coelho has since decided to delete the draft. With as much as Kobe talked about The Alchemist, I know that had to be a real thrill for him.

 

Game 6 vs the C Bags at Staples Center. Lakers win after LeBron and AD dominate. Vanessa Bryant and her three daughters are there. Your NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. Adam Silver announces that LeBron James is the Finals MVP but as Bill Russell is about to hand the Finals MVP to LeBron, LeBron says nah, Vanessa Bryant, this is for you. Vanessa Bryant and her three daughters didn't come alone - they brought Kobe and GiGi's jersey with them and set it on the table. Alongside Kobe and GiGi's jerseys is the NBA Championship and now, Bill Russell hands the Finals MVP to Vanessa Bryant. As she is in tears, Vanessa Bryant places the Finals MVP next to Kobe's jersey. KO-BE, KO-BE, KO-BE, the crowd chants. Suddenly, LeBron grabs the microphone from Adam Silver. Your 2020 NBA Finals MVP, Kobe Bryant. The crowd now begins chanting M-V-P, M-V-P, M-V-P. As the chants grow louder and louder, the spotlight shines on Kobe's retired jersey and alongside of it... a new banner is revealed. Not of Kobe's jersey but a silhouette of the new NBA logo, Kobe Bryant. The chants grow even louder... KO-BE, KO-BE, KO-BE... This is Mike Breen, here with ABC Broadcast and we'd like to thank you for watching. Your 2020 NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers and the 2020 NBA Finals MVP, Kobe Bryant. Good night.

 

JT saw him on Saturday, too. Talks a little about that.